It's about unconditional friendship, when life happens (especially during tough times) they are there to lend a part of themselves to you; be it a hand, shoulder, or ear. When it seems like everything in your life is falling apart they ask you if everything is alright, they know when it is not, and they help you however they can if you ask for it (and sometimes when you don't or refuse).

The true friend cares about you, they really do. Did you make it home safely? They'll call you to be sure. How was your day? It's not a formality for them, they really want to know. They'll think about you, call you, and ask how your day is going without it being some special occasion. Perhaps some TV show they were watching came on and they were reminded that you love to watch it, or perhaps they saw someone be as picky as you are and were reminded of you in that way. They were reminded and subsequently they try to contact you. More importantly they will try to remain in contact with you even if you move away for years, or even decades, where the friendship turns into only conversations, but enjoyable conversations. They important word in that sentence is "try". They will try to maintain the friendship as much as you want to so that you don't drift apart, so that you don't move on and forget.

They know you intimately from the times you have spent together. During the time spent together they've seen your moments of weakness, and your feats of strength, they've seen it all. They tell you the truth, like a mother would. The honest truth which is not always the truth you want to hear, but that's why they are your friend. They protect you from others, and from yourself. Providing insight, these true friends give you alternative perspectives so you know where you stand in life. They care what you think and vice versa. They get embarrassed when appropriate because they care what you think. They get sad when appropriate because they care that you are unhappy. They trust you and you trust them with intimate details of your life, as well as possessions, and peoples.

Ultimately they demonstrate all these qualities through the things they do on a daily basis. They are the few that will help you move, who know when you say "I'm alright" that you actually aren't. They know where you come from, who you truly are, and they love you for it unconditionally.

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